The thoughts of the hunting festival, where Seraphina might hand over her handkerchief to Theodore were too depressing to ignore them. Blanche hoped that she had hidden that somewhat well, but she doubted it.

“Is something wrong? You're so quiet.” Theodore gently reminded her that she hadn't replied to his mention of the festival yet.

Blanche attempted to keep her voice from shaking as she spoke. “No, I'm fine. I just thought that you will definitely win again, as you always do.” Her efforts didn't pay off. It was obvious how uncertain she was even to herself.

It was clear that Theodore didn't believe her. His hand wandered to her chin to tilt her head upwards, but she didn't budge.

She simply pressed her face into Theodore's chest and tightened her grip on the back of his jacket. “I'm fine.” Those words were as much for him as they had been for her. She needed to calm down now, or her composure would break as soon as he spoke to her. If she looked into his eyes, she would end up revealing the truth about her worries, and she couldn't do that. She was so close to asking him to reject Seraphina's handkerchief to prevent the romantic story event, but that would equal a public humiliation of the empress.

Of course, Theodore didn't stay quiet though. “Blanche.” He called out her name, which only caused her to stiffen.

Blanche couldn't move away from him, not now that she already felt how her self-control was wavering. She had to keep hiding her face. Especially since her resolve was breaking apart. She couldn't demand that the emperor ignored a century-old tradition for her, right? But she really didn't want him to spend time with Seraphina that day. She had done so well keeping the main characters' romance from progressing. She couldn't risk messing up now. However, how was she supposed to intervene here? Her grim thoughts almost threatened to overtake her brain completely.

Theodore began to rub circles into her back and carefully rested his chin on her head. Only now, she managed to relax a bit. Her lover took that as his cue to speak up again. “Tell me what's-” He was cut off by a knock. Immediately, he breathed out in frustration and slouched his shoulders. “I assume that that is Leon.” He stopped spinning to turn to the door and raised his voice. “Yes?”

As he had expected, Leonard was the one replying. “Your Majesty, I retrieved the documents regarding the matter you asked me to investigate.”

Theodore didn't seem pleased to hear that, and yet, he didn't decline. “I'll be there in a minute.” He faced Blanche again, which made her slowly lift her head.

The concubine would have liked to stay quiet, but she knew that she had to speak now. So, she tried to sound as unaffected as possible. “You have to go now, don't you?”

Theodore frowned upon seeing her face and gently stroked his thumbs over her cheek. Luckily, he didn't address her expression though. “I'm sorry, but I have to leave. These documents are...very important. We can...talk about this matter tomorrow.”

Blanche could basically hear how unwell he seemed, so she didn't want to bother him for any longer. She stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him goodbye, and he leaned forward to meet her halfway. “Until tomorrow.”

Theodore took her hands in his and squeezed them. He opened his mouth, only to close it again and stare at her for a moment. Then he voiced a curt goodbye before leaving after he waved her from the door.

Seemingly, the matter was truly urgent. Normally, Leon had to wait at least five minutes until the emperor had finally forced himself to let go of his lover, and this time, Theodore had disappeared almost immediately.

When the door shut, Blanche felt a bit empty. On the one hand, she was glad that her beloved hadn't asked about her worries, but at the same time, it was odd for him not to insist on hearing it despite her unwillingness. If her lover truly had been persuaded to leave it alone for now, whatever Leonard researched had to be a pretty serious topic, and that unsettled her. There were few things that would force Theo to go while she was obviously in such a horrible mood. So, it appeared that an issue that endangered the royal family or even the whole country had arisen.

In that case, it would probably be connected to Northern Ocrea. The king shouldn't have declared war yet since Theodore would be the one to do so after Ocrean soldiers had attacked villages near the border. That would only be a month after the summer vacation, so it couldn't have happened now. Still, it was possible that Ocrea caused problems again. Why were they so keen on engaging in battles with Artias when they had nothing to gain except for a brutal war? Blanche couldn't imagine that the king didn't have any advantages in mind, otherwise provoking a neighboring nation didn't make any sense.

Knowing that Theodore was giving his best and would still not be able to prevent a war in the end made her feel awful. With a sigh, Blanche plopped down onto the sofa.

Seconds later, Stella was at her side. “Why are you this dejected? Nothing bad happened, right?”

Blanche made a dismissive motion with her hand. “It's alright. I just thought about something unpleasant.”

But the maid didn't give up that quickly. “Do you want to talk about it? It might be good to take this off your mind for now. I'll just listen to you if you don't need a response.”

Blanche took a deep breath before leaning her head onto the backrest and staring at the ceiling. Maybe Stella was right about the fact that speaking about her worry might help. She wasn't completely sure, but in the end, her jealousy of Seraphina wasn't a secret. She didn't like admitting it, however, everyone who had watched her during the last eighteen months should have realized that she was envious of the empress by now. She had even told Theodore about it, and he was the last person she wanted to know about how strongly that emotion influenced her. Stella was her closest friend and unmistakably the most loyal companion that she could have. So, telling her maid about it without including the details wouldn't have any negative consequences either.

Stella already seemed to expect her mistress to decline when the other woman finally gathered enough courage to voice the truth. “You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.”

The concubine hurriedly corrected that guess. “No, it's better if I get this off my chest. Did you hear us mentioning the hunting festival?”

The maid was quiet for a while, which made the concubine open one eye to glance at her.

“Stella?”

Stella sat down next to her mistress but averted her eyes. “Yes, I did. It's just that... I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation. But there was nothing else to do, so...” She looked up with a regretful expression. “I'm sorry.”

Blanche gave her a small smile to calm her. “It's fine, I would have done the same.” She paused and breathed in deeply as her smile faded. “The festival is in about two weeks. First of all, I don't look forward to sitting or standing around there alone while Theo is gone, but I could endure that despite all the unpleasant encounters I might have there. But there is also another...well, not a real problem. It's just an uncomfortable matter for me. Nobody else will mind. You surely know about the tradition about the women bringing a self-made handkerchief?” She opened both eyes to observe the maid's reaction.

Stella didn't seem surprised. “Yes, but that isn't bad, is it? I assumed that you wanted to make one for His Majesty too.”

Blanche pressed her lips into a thin line and bit her tongue to force down the sadness that surfaced inside her upon being reminded of that. She hesitated to speak up again but did so anyway after a couple of seconds. “That's the problem. I could make one, however, that would be useless. The men can only accept a handkerchief from their wives or relatives. That means that I can't give Theo mine, and I also won't give it to anyone else. So, I can do without putting all of that effort into making something that will only lie around here. But the actual problem is that I will have to watch when the empress gives Theodore her handkerchief. It's such a little gesture, and they have to do it because everyone is watching, so I shouldn't be this upset, but I can't help it. I know I'm overreacting, but I-”

The concubine interrupted herself and tilted her head back again to avoid letting her maid see her face. Surely, Stella had to be irritated by how sensitive her mistress was. It was just a handkerchief, whining about that didn't make any sense. Her servant didn't know about the events that might follow because of that small interaction, so Stella probably wondered why the concubine was exaggerating this much.

Blanche was about to apologize for bothering the other woman when Stella took her hand. She looked down again and made eye contact with the maid.

Stella's expression didn't show any signs of mockery or annoyance. Instead, she gave her mistress a serious look. “You're not overreacting. Anyone would hate to see how the person they love accepts an item that represents a romantic relationship from another person. I wish I could change that, but I fear that there is nothing we can do. However, that doesn't mean that you have to sit by idly. You can still make a handkerchief that is more beautiful than everything His Majesty has ever seen and give it to him after or before the hunt so that no one sees it. He adores everything that comes from you, so he will be overjoyed to receive a gift like that.”

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Blanche let out a laugh that was half amused and half dry. “You do remember how much trouble I have with knives, right? I'm unable to keep my hand steady even while doing nothing, so what makes you think that I could sew something pretty? I assume that Theo would say that it's great to not hurt my feelings and then hide it somewhere where no one sees it. Even if he would really like it, he would probably only do so because it's a present from me, and he still couldn't show it anywhere in public. The emperor can't just have such unskillfully-made items without it being seen as odd.”

Still, the idea of making a small present for her lover had already ingrained itself deep in Blanche's mind. Theodore would most likely be happy about this, and she could calm down a bit due to the knowledge that she had gifted him a handkerchief as well. In any case, it was better than leaving Seraphina the chance to be the only one to hand him a present.

Blanche glanced at Stella, who was obviously trying to come up with a reply, and spoke up again after a short pause. “But maybe I should do it anyway, just so that I can give him a little gift after he wins. The only issue is that I have never sewed something in my whole life. I think that most noble ladies actually ask their servants to make the handkerchief for them, but I do want to sew it myself if it's for Theo.”

A smile grew on Stella's lips and replaced her previous concern. “I'm good at sewing. I would be happy to teach you how to do it. We still have over two weeks until the hunt, so you can take your time and practice using the needles a bit before working on the handkerchief.”

Blanche felt how her tension lessened a bit after hearing this. If she managed to create a somewhat beautiful result with Stella's help, she would definitely be more content. Just allowing Seraphina to monopolize Theodore's attention on the day of the festival wasn't an option, so it would be great if Blanche could give him a present after he won. By telling him that she had something for him after the competition, she might even be able to encourage her lover to end the conversation with his wife early to see her. She wouldn't change the whole scene, but maybe she had the chance to alter the crucial part and prevent the main characters from bonding like that.

A small smile appeared on Blanche's lips at that thought as she became more determined. “Then I'll have to ask you to take care of me. Please teach me how to sew so that I can make a handkerchief that I can give Theo without being ashamed.”

“Gladly. We have the whole afternoon to begin if you would like to. I just have to get the utensils, and you are free to try out a couple of things already.”

Blanche quickly agreed to that. Not only would she learn how to sew, but she could also pass the day by doing something useful despite not being able to visit the kitchen, which was perfect. And just like that, a stressful afternoon full of attempts at sewing began. Blanche followed her maid's instructions with a lot of motivation. As always, her will wasn't the weak point, her skills were. Even though Stella's movements looked very easy, and the concubine had memorized what to do, her hands didn't allow her to imitate the other woman's grace.

Blanche's fingers trembled the whole time no matter how many breaks she took. She was unable to insert the thread into the needle without help, and each pattern she attempted to make came out completely differently. During her countless attempts, she almost pricked herself with the needle many times and actually left a few little wounds on her fingers, which made Stella panic. Despite this, she kept on trying until the evening, and the setting sun increased the difficulty of sewing even more.

Still, Blanche felt like she had made a little progress and looked forward to the next time that she could try improving herself. She would have to take a break the following day because of Sophia, but she could continue the lesson every other day, so she didn't worry too much about having failed miserably her first time. She was still thankful for not having dreamed about needles that night though.

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The following day was exceptionally beautiful. The blue sky was clear with not a single cloud being in sight. It was warm as well due to the sun shining ever since the early morning.

Blanche couldn't wait to enjoy that wonderful chance to go out to the fullest. Before lunch, she took a short walk in the garden before eating with Theodore. Apparently, it was even warmer than she had expected since she was already sweating without doing anything. After a long hug with her lover, she went back to her room to change into a lighter dress.

After some contemplation, Blanche's gaze fell on the navy-blue gown that she still hadn't worn yet. If she didn't choose it now, she also wouldn't have another opportunity to wear in for the next week since she intended to sew and bake in that time and didn't wish to risk dirtying or destroying the dress. Surely, Sophia wouldn't care about something like this, right? The concubine didn't intend to put on any golden accessories after all, and theoretically, blue dresses weren't a problem.

Only Blanche's exaggerated carefulness had caused her to be reluctant to wear it in fear that someone might think that she was going out in an attire that was too similar to the empress. But Seraphina didn't wear the royal colors that often aside from the public events and favored simpler designs. The concubine adorned gowns with more ornaments, so they shouldn't even remotely look like they had similar clothes.

In the end, Blanche's desire to finally put the dress on overshadowed her caution. She changed into it with Stella's help and stood in front of the mirror in awe. The dress was as gorgeous as it had been before. She couldn't stop beaming as she walked down the stairs and felt the soft skirt fall around her legs.

This time, Blanche had decided to place the tea table outside. Like this, they could enjoy the ideal weather while eating, and the pregnant Sophia didn't have to walk to the third floor anymore. The concubine had asked the servants to prepare the venue on the terrace before and now gave them a few instructions while they decorated the table. Seeing how the staff members brought the pastries, which looked too delicious to be real, made her hungry quickly, so she was glad when it was finally four o'clock.

Once again, she walked to the palace's entrance to welcome Sophia, and like last time, the countess was not a minute too late.

Sophia climbed out of the carriage with the help of her maid before giving the concubine her usual bright smile.

Blanche didn't want to let her wait, so she hurried to greet the countess. “Lady Ravillot, it's wonderful to see you again so soon. How are you?”

“Nothing changed in the last two days, Lady Blanche. So, I can't tell you many exciting things. Still, I'm happy to be invited again.”

The concubine didn't intend to make Sophia stand around for long, so she gestured to the tiled path next to the palace. “Since the weather is so pleasant today, I thought that sitting outside would be nice. The table is on the terrace. It's not the most private place but the one with the most beautiful view. Would you kindly follow me so that I can show it to you?”

Sophia immediately agreed. “Naturally. I have seen the royal garden a few times already, but I'm still impressed by how hard the gardeners must be working. Perhaps we could take a walk later too.”

“I would be overjoyed to do so.” With that, the concubine began walking.

Blanche led the other woman around the building until they reached the terrace. The table still looked exactly as she had left it, which calmed her consciousness that always expected the worst. The only thing that had been added was a light blue parasol that was shielding the table from the direct sunlight. The concubine made a mental note to thank the servants for that later as she offered Sophia to sit.

This time, the countess chose a green tea while Blanche decided to have one with apple flavor. For a while, they waited for a servant to bring the drinks while chatting about different topics including Sophia's husband, who didn't seem to be pleased by his wife's visits to the palace.

Sophia didn't hold back her complaints about his overprotectiveness nor did she try to hide the affectionate tone in her voice when she spoke about him. “Whenever I tell him that I have made an appointment, Charles gets overly worried. He insists on repeating that I'm heavily pregnant and that the child could come at any moment, but that won't confine me to the house. After all, he isn't home today either way. Even if I gave birth today, he wouldn't have been there. But should I tell him that, he would definitely feel bad, even though I gave him my permission to meet with the merchant. Though I believe that the fact that I'm visiting you is what truly worries him. You see, he isn't very trusting when it comes to people he doesn't know. Unfortunately, that includes most people. He is a bit shy, so he often has trouble speaking to strangers. He even took a year and countless meetings to get to know my family. Especially my siblings.”

In the end, Sophia always managed to move the conversation to her family. It didn't seem like she was doing it purposefully. She genuinely sounded like she adored her parents and siblings and spend such a great part of her life with them that she couldn't imagine a world without them.

That made Blanche wonder why Sophia had come here despite knowing that Seraphina despised the concubine even more than before. But she couldn't bring herself to interrupt the other woman, who was beginning to praise her siblings with shining eyes again. So, she just let the countess ramble on after their tea had arrived.

Sophia gladly talked about her sister and brother with obvious joy shining in her eyes. “The both of them aren't very talkative if you don't approach them directly. They only participate in the dialogues at events that are absolutely necessary, and otherwise, you will have to repeatedly address them, or they won't open up to you. I promise that, no matter how cold they seem, they are actually very kind. They just need a while to learn to trust new people. It's odd that both are similar in that regard and that I'm so different. I love talking to new people. It's refreshing to hear new opinions and give yourself a chance to get to know other ways of living.” Sophia paused and hid her mouth with her hand as her smile faded to leave behind slight surprise. “Ahh, it seems like I was doing it again. I apologize for my rambling. I didn't mean to keep you from talking. I do that too often, so know that you are free to interrupt me when I go on for too long.” She looked like she was a bit embarrassed about that.

Quickly, Blanche made a dismissive motion with her hand. “Don't apologize, Lady Ravillot. I don't mind. It's wonderful to hear how close you are to your family. As long as you feel comfortable sharing so intimate stories with me, I'll gladly listen.” That wasn't quite true.

In reality, the concubine was torn. On the one hand, it was adorable how sweetly Sophia talked about the people in her life. This way, the concubine also got information that might help her get a general idea on how to act around Seraphina without infuriating her.

On the other hand, it was painful to be reminded of what a happy family looked like. Blanche didn't think about her parents and siblings daily anymore, but they were still a vital memory that was burned into her mind. She would never give up that last part of them that she held dear, and yet, it hurt. Every single story about the Duremonts made her remember something that had happened in her childhood. It seemed like their families were pretty similar after all.

There was only one major difference.

The Duremonts were still happy while Blanche's parents and siblings were dead.

Each time the concubine noticed a similarity, she felt a sting in her heart and ate a snack to distract herself, but she couldn't deny the jealousy that was rising within her. She wanted to share such stories about her family with a loving expression too, but she couldn't. Despite that, she didn't even think about interrupting the countess though. She was unwilling to let others suffer because of her grief, so she kept her mouth shut.

Sophia had already moved on to the next narration about her childhood without being aware of the other woman's inner struggle. “Did I tell you about the party of my fourteenth birthday yet? I don't think I did. That day, a marquess, who was at least thrice as old as I was back then, wanted to dance with me. Unfortunately, I forgot his name, but I would probably remember if I saw his face. I felt uncomfortable when he approached me since he came way too close to me, but of course, I couldn't refuse. I was about to cry by the first half of the dance. When the music piece was finally over, I was so happy, but he didn't let go of me.”

Sophia's eyes shone when she continued and mentioned her beloved relative again. “Then my sister rushed in like she was sent by the gods to save me. She took over immediately. During her dance with the marquess, she stepped onto his foot. It was quite a funny sight to see how quickly a grown man began to yell because of a young lady. Apparently, Seraphina was a bit too harsh and sprained his ankle, but everyone within the room made fun of him after that, and he didn't bother me again. When I thanked my sister, she insisted that it was a mistake on her part. However, I saw her dance a hundred times, and she never made a single error. She must purposefully have used all of her force to make sure that this marquess wouldn't dance with any other girls anymore.”

Blanche had to grin at that story. She could imagine how Seraphina had done something like that after seeing her younger sister being scared. The heroine had probably apologized with her usual unmoving expression, which would make anyone think that she had only grazed the man's foot lightly. It was a clever way to embarrass that marquess in front of all guests without offending him or exposing herself to ridicule. “I wouldn't be surprised if the empress did that to protect you. She is one of the few people that are capable of coming up with such an intelligent plot on the spot. Did the marquess complain about that incident later?”

Sophia didn't get the chance to reply as someone else spoke first.

“He did not.”

The concubine's blood froze in her veins when a third voice chimed into their dialogue. Little by little, she turned her head to the side and looked up at Seraphina's aggravated expression.

By the gods. This was an issue.